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Showing posts from August 12, 2016


Nakula – fourth of the five Pandavas

Nakula is the fourth of the five Pandava brothers in the Mahabharata. He was the son of Madri, the second queen of King Pandu. Ashwini Kumars bestowed on him handsomeness. Nakula was an expert in medication and maintenance of horses. Nakula was also an expert in the use of the sword and this earned him the title Athirathi. During the Rajasuya Yajna performed by Yudhisthira in the Indraprastha, Nakula was deputed to conquer the kingdom in the west. He did this successfully and returned with camel-loads of wealth. During the incognito year during the exile period in the Mahabharata, Nakula was appointed as the keeper of horses by King Virata. He helped King Virata defeat the Tigartas. In the Mahabharata war, Nakula fought and defeated many of the great warriors on the Kaurava side. After the war, Yudhisthira made Nakula the commander of the army of Hastinapura.

Adityesvara temple at Bokkasampalem village – Thondamanadu in Chitoor District in Andhra Pradesh – Kodandarameswara Temple

Adityesvara temple, also known as Kodandarameswara Temple, is a sepulchral temple raised over the corporeal remains of Chola King Adiya by his son Parantaka. The shrine is located at Bokkasampalem village – Thondamanadu in Chitoor District in Andhra Pradesh and is around 7 km from Sri Kalahasti. The shrine was built during the 10th century AD. Lord Shiva is worshipped here as Kodandarameswara and Mother Goddess Shakti is worshipped as Kamakshi Devi. The main Shivling is nearly 5 feet tall. The temple faces west and an intricately sculpted Nandi faces the sanctum sanctorum. The main temple consists of a porch, a narrow antarala and garbhagriha. The wall of the sanctum sanctorum and antarala are plain. Each wall has a devakoshta housing a deity. The niche in the north wall of the garbhagriha contains the image of standing Brahma. The koshta in the west wall contains the figure of standing Vishnu, while the koshta in the south wall contains the image of Dakshinamurti.

Teachings from Mandukya Upanishad – Madhwa Bhashya

A collection of teachings from Mandukya Upanishad – Madhwa Bhashya Vedas have designated Brahman by OM – the imperishable letter. Brahman is the absolute, past and future and all pervading and controlling. Parabrahman never undergoes any type of modification with the passage of time. Parabrahman ever remains the same. Atma is present in all beings. It regulates all. As per Madhwa Bhashya, Atma refers to God residing in the individual soul. Only liberated souls realize Paramatma. Paramatman removes erroneous knowledge and puts an end to the cycle of birth and death.